Staff Experimental Scientist in Quantum Sensing (Atom-Interferometry Gravimeters) at Q-CTRL, Sydney
Job Description
This quantum sensing scientist job in Sydney is with Q-CTRL’s Quantum Sensing Research team. You will develop the hardware of quantum gravimeters based on atom interferometry. Then you will help make them tough enough for field trials on real vehicles.
At a glance
- Position: Staff Experimental Scientist, full time, permanent
- Where: Sydney, Australia, on site
- Team: Quantum Sensing Research (about 30 specialists)
- Pay: Not stated in the posting
- Posted: 30 September 2026
- Apply: open until filled (re-checked 13 November 2026)
About the quantum gravimeter hardware work
- Design, build, run, test, modify and ruggedise complex prototypes for field trials
- Take part in field trials, including travel and work on location
- Find and fix mechanical, optical and electronic faults, in the lab and in the field
- Move new sensing methods and control schemes from lab research onto field prototypes
- Work side by side with quantum scientists and mechanical and electrical engineers
The posting says you do not need a background in quantum mechanics or quantum hardware. The team’s physicists cover that. It wants strong hands-on problem solving with precise hardware.
Why this role matters
Quantum gravimeters measure tiny changes in gravity. They can help navigation where satellite signals fail. Moving them from a quiet lab onto a moving vehicle is the hard part, and this role works on exactly that step.
What Q-CTRL is looking for
- A PhD in physics, engineering or a closely related field
- Experience designing, running, calibrating, packaging, testing and validating complex prototypes
- Experience fixing complex scientific, mechanical, optical and electrical systems in the lab and the field, for example robotics, scientific apparatus, complex sensors or metrology
Nice to have
- Hands-on work with lasers, optics, vacuum systems and cold atoms
- Low-noise precision measurement or metrology
- Hardware programming, including Python
- Research experience in a university or company, working closely with physicists
Pay and location
The posting gives no salary figure. It mentions equity potential and competitive benefits. The role is full time, permanent and on site in Sydney, with travel for field trials. The posting says nothing about visas or work rights, so check this with Q-CTRL.
How to apply
Apply through the official Q-CTRL job posting. Q-CTRL’s posting does not give a closing date, so the role is open until filled; ResearchJobs.in will re-check this listing on 13 November 2026. Check the posting for location and work-authorisation details before you apply.
See all our quantum technology jobs, or browse more research jobs on ResearchJobs.in.
Hiring institution: Q-CTRL
Official advertisement: jobs.lever.co
How to prepare for this application
- Prepare two stories: a prototype you made robust, and a field or lab fault you traced to its cause
- Revise atom interferometry basics: laser cooling, Raman pulses and how phase relates to gravity
- Know vibration isolation, temperature control and magnetic shielding for precise sensors
- Show the Python you use to control hardware or log data
- Think about what changes when a sensor moves from an optical table onto a ship, plane or truck
About Q-CTRL
Q-CTRL is a quantum technology company founded in Sydney in 2017. It makes quantum control software for quantum computers and develops quantum sensors for navigation. The posting lists offices in Sydney, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Huntsville, Berlin and Oxford.
